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Abstract:

A liquid supply apparatus, which supplies a liquid or liquids stored in
liquid cartridges of a plurality of types, includes a plurality of
cartridge installing sections to which the liquid cartridges of the
plurality of types are detachably installable, wherein a plurality of
connection ports, which correspond to supply ports formed for the liquid
cartridges of the plurality of types respectively, are formed at mutually
different positions of the respective cartridge installing sections.

Claims:

1. A liquid supply apparatus which supplies a plurality of kinds of
liquids stored in a plurality of types of liquid cartridges each having a
supply port, respectively, the liquid supply apparatus comprising: a
plurality of cartridge installing sections to which the liquid cartridges
are detachably installable, each of the cartridge installing sections
including a plurality of connection ports, each of which corresponds to
the supply port formed for one of the liquid cartridges, and which are
formed at mutually different positions of the respective cartridge
installing sections.

2. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of supply flow passages which are connected to the connection
ports.

3. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a group of
the supply flow passages, which are connected to the connection ports of
the cartridge installing sections corresponding to a same type of the
liquid cartridges, are communicated with each other.

4. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
cartridge installing sections are aligned in one direction; and the
connection ports of the respective cartridge installing sections are
aligned in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the one direction.

5. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a capture
space in which the air is captured is formed at upstream portion of each
of the supply flow passages, the upstream portion being located upstream
from the supply flow passages to be commonly communicated, and a
cross-sectional area of an outlet portion of the capture space through
which the capture space is communicated with the commonly communicated
supply flow passages is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the
capture space.

6. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the
supply flow passages is provided with a first portion which has a first
diameter and a second portion which is located in the middle of the first
portion and which has a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

7. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of connection ports are open upwardly in a vertical direction.

8. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of connection ports are open in a horizontal direction.

9. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
plurality of cartridge installing sections have a holder which is formed
with the connection ports and the plurality of supply flow passages; the
supply flow passages form a plurality of common flow passage groups, each
of the common flow passage groups including the supply flow passages
connected to the connection ports corresponding to a same type of the
liquid cartridges respectively; and the holder is formed with a plurality
of communication passages each of which communicate common flow passages
included in the respective common flow passage groups with each other.

10. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the liquid
supply apparatus further comprises a plurality of tubes each of which is
connected to the communication passages.

11. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an air
buffer, in which a space for capturing the air is defined, is connected
to one of the communication passages of the holder.

12. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an air
buffer, in which a space for capturing the air is defined, is connected
to one of the tubes.

13. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of connection ports, which are formed for each of the cartridge
installing sections, are configured so that all of the connection ports
except for one connection port of the connection ports corresponding to
one supply port of the supply ports formed for one of the liquid
cartridges are sealed under a condition that the one of the liquid
cartridges is installed.

14. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
the plurality of types of the liquid cartridges, wherein each of the
liquid cartridges is formed with sealing portions which seal all of the
connection ports except for one connection port of the connection ports
corresponding to one supply port of the supply ports formed for one of
the liquid cartridges under a condition that the one of the liquid
cartridge is installed to one of the cartridge installing sections.

15. A printer which performs printing on a medium with a plurality of
inks stored in a plurality of types of ink cartridges each having a
supply port, the printer comprising: a liquid supply mechanism including
a plurality of cartridge installing sections to which the ink cartridges
are detachably installable, each of the cartridge installing sections
having a plurality of connection ports each of which corresponds to the
supply port formed for one of the ink cartridges and which are formed at
mutually different positions of the respective cartridge installing
sections; a head which performs the printing by discharging liquid
droplets of the inks onto the medium; a moving section which moves the
medium relative to the head; and supply flow passages through which the
liquid supply mechanism and the head are liquid-communicated, and through
which the inks are supplied to the head.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2009-293983, filed on Dec. 25, 2009, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a liquid supply apparatus for
supplying a liquid or liquids, and a printer.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] A liquid supply apparatus has been hitherto widely known in various
technical field, the liquid supply apparatus including a plurality of
cartridge installing sections to which liquid cartridges of a plurality
of kinds of liquids are installable respectively, wherein liquids are
supplied to a variety of objectives from the liquid cartridges installed
to the cartridge installing sections. For example, in a liquid supply
apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2003-54007, one connection port is provided for each of a plurality of
cartridge installing sections, and installation positions of liquid
cartridges of a plurality of types are determined previously. Further,
the liquid cartridges of the plurality of types have the same positions
of supply ports. In the case of such an arrangement, it is feared that
any erroneous installation may be caused. Therefore, it is necessary to
provide any artifice in order to avoid the erroneous installation. In the
liquid supply apparatus, engagement guide sections, which have different
shapes depending on the types of the liquid cartridges, are formed
respectively on surfaces of the plurality of types of the liquid
cartridges, the surfaces being to be opposed to the cartridge installing
sections upon the installation. Further, engagement receiving sections,
which has shapes corresponding to the engagement guide sections of the
plurality of types of the liquid cartridges, are formed respectively for
the plurality of cartridge installing sections. Each of the cartridge
installing sections is constructed so that only a specified liquid
cartridge, in which a specified engagement guide section corresponding to
the engagement receiving section formed for the specified cartridge
installing section, can be installed. In this way, the erroneous
installation is avoided.

[0006] However, in the case of the liquid supply apparatus described in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-54007, it is necessary
that the installation position for the intended liquid cartridge should
be confirmed with respect to the plurality of cartridge installing
sections. A user undergoes the troublesome installation operation.
Further, a structure for avoiding the erroneous installation of the
cartridge installing sections and the liquid cartridges are complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to
provide a liquid supply apparatus in which the installation operation is
convenient for a user while simplifying the arrangement or structure of
liquid cartridges and cartridge installing sections, and to provide a
printer which is based on the use of such a liquid supply apparatus.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a liquid supply apparatus which supplies a plurality of kinds of
liquids stored in a plurality of types of liquid cartridges each having a
supply port, respectively, the liquid supply apparatus comprising:

[0009] a plurality of cartridge installing sections to which the liquid
cartridges are detachably installable, each of the cartridge installing
sections including a plurality of connection ports, each of which
corresponds to the supply port formed for one of the liquid cartridges,
and which are formed at mutually different positions of the respective
cartridge installing sections.

[0010] According to the liquid supply apparatus of the present invention,
the plurality of connection ports, each of which corresponds to the
supply port of one of the liquid cartridges of the plurality of types,
are formed for the respective cartridge installing sections. Therefore,
even when the liquid cartridges of the plurality of types are installed
at any position of the plurality of cartridge installing sections, then
the supply port of the liquid cartridge is communicated with the
connection port corresponding to the type of the liquid cartridge, and
the liquid or liquids can be supplied to the supply flow passages. In
this way, any installation position is available for the liquid
cartridges of the plurality of types without any problem, and the
installation operation is conveniently performed by a user. Further, it
is unnecessary to provide any arrangement or structure for avoiding the
erroneous installation for the liquid cartridge and/or the cartridge
installing section. It is possible to simplify the arrangement or
structure of the liquid cartridge and the cartridge installing section.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a printer which performs printing on a medium with a plurality
of inks stored in a plurality of types of ink cartridges each having a
supply port, the printer comprising:

[0012] a liquid supply mechanism including a plurality of cartridge
installing sections to which the ink cartridges are detachably
installable, each of the cartridge installing sections having a plurality
of connection ports each of which corresponds to the supply port formed
for one of the ink cartridges and which are formed at mutually different
positions of the respective cartridge installing sections;

[0013] a head which performs the printing by discharging liquid droplets
of the inks onto the medium;

[0014] a moving section which moves the medium relative to the head; and

[0015] supply flow passages through which the liquid supply mechanism and
the head are liquid-communicated, and through which the inks are supplied
to the head.

[0016] The plurality of connection ports, which correspond to the supply
ports of the ink cartridges of the plurality of types respectively, are
formed for the respective cartridge installing sections. Therefore, any
installation position is available for the ink cartridges of the
plurality of types without any problem, and the installation operation is
conveniently performed by a user. Owing to the fact that any installation
position is available without any problem, it is unnecessary to provide
any arrangement or structure for avoiding the erroneous installation for
the ink cartridge and/or the cartridge installing section. It is possible
to simplify the arrangement or structure of the ink cartridge and the
cartridge installing section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view illustrating an ink-jet printer
according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 11 shows an example in which respective supply flow passages
are formed independently.

[0029] FIG. 12 shows an example in which the cylindrical members are the
hollow needles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Next, an embodiment of the present teaching will be explained. In
this embodiment, the present teaching is applied to a printer which
records or prints, for example, desired letters and images on the
recording paper by jetting an ink or inks from an ink-jet head to the
recording paper.

[0031] At first, an explanation will be made with reference to FIG. 1
about a schematic arrangement of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the
printer 1 includes, for example, a carriage 2 which is constructed
reciprocatively movably in one direction, an ink-jet head 3 and subtanks
4 which are carried on the carriage 2, and an ink supply apparatus 5
(liquid supply apparatus) to which ink cartridges 6 (liquid cartridges)
for storing the ink or inks are detachably installable.

[0032] The printer 1 is provided with two guide frames 17a, 17b which
extend in parallel in one horizontal direction (left-right direction as
shown in FIG. 1: scanning direction) and which are arranged while
providing a spacing distance in a paper feeding direction perpendicular
to the scanning direction. The carriage 2 is attached to the two guide
frames 17a, 17b. The carriage 2 is reciprocatively driven by a carriage
driving mechanism 12 while being guided by the two guide frames 17a, 17b.
The carriage driving mechanism 12 includes an endless belt 18 which is
connected to the carriage 2, and a carriage driving motor 19 which allows
the endless belt 18 to travel. When the endless belt 18 is driven to
travel by the carriage driving motor 19, the carriage 2 is
reciprocatively moved in the scanning direction in accordance with the
travel of the endless belt 18.

[0033] The ink-jet head 3 and the four subtanks 4 are carried on the
carriage 2. The four subtanks 4 correspond to four color inks of black,
yellow, cyan, and magenta respectively, and they are arranged side by
side in the scanning direction. The ink-jet head 3 is provided under or
below the four subtanks 4. The respective subtanks 4 temporarily store
the inks supplied from the ink cartridges 6. A tube joint 21 is
integrally provided at first ends of the four subtanks 4. The four
subtanks 4 are connected to the ink supply apparatus 5 via four flexible
tubes 11 connected to the tube joint 21 respectively. On the other hand,
second ends of the four subtanks 4 are connected to ink supply ports (not
shown) provided on the upper surface of the ink-jet head 3. Accordingly,
the inks, which are supplied via the tubes 11 from the ink cartridges 6
installed to the ink supply apparatus 5, are temporarily stored in the
subtanks 4, and the inks contained in the subtanks 4 are supplied to the
ink jet head 3.

[0034] A plurality of unillustrated nozzles are formed on the lower
surface of the ink-jet head 3. The inks, which are supplied from the
subtanks 4, are jetted by the ink-jet head 3 from the plurality of
nozzles respectively toward the recording paper P transported in the
paper feeding direction (see FIG. 1) by means of an unillustrated
transport mechanism, while the ink-jet head 3 is reciprocatively moved in
the scanning direction together with the carriage 2. Accordingly, for
example, desired letters and images are recorded on the recording paper
P.

[0035] The ink supply apparatus 5 includes a holder 10 which has four
cartridge installing sections 22 for detachably installing the four ink
cartridges 6 for storing the four color inks of black, yellow, cyan, and
magenta respectively.

[0036] The ink supply apparatus 5 will be explained in detail with
reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the holder 10 of the
ink supply apparatus 5 has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped bottom
wall 10a through which the inks contained in the installed ink cartridges
6 are supplied to the subtanks 4 via the tubes 11, and two side walls 10b
which are extended upwardly in the vertical direction from both end
portions of the bottom wall 10a in the X direction (paper feeding
direction). The bottom wall 10a and the two side walls 10b constitute the
four cartridge installing sections 22 which are aligned in the Y
direction (scanning direction) and to which the four ink cartridges 6 can
be installed.

[0037] The bottom wall 10a has a plurality of cylindrical members 23 which
protrude upwardly in the vertical direction from the upper surface, and
four supply flow passages 26 (26a to 26d) which are formed in the
cylindrical member 23.

[0038] The cylindrical member 23 is a hollow member, and a hollow internal
space formed in the cylindrical member 23 functions as the flow passage.
The forward end of the cylindrical member 23 is open upwardly in the
vertical direction to serve as a connection port 25 (25a to 25d) which is
connectable to a supply port 38a of the ink cartridge 6 as described
later on. The connection ports 25a to 25d are arranged in this order from
top down as viewed in FIG. 3. In the following description, when the
respective connection ports 25a to 25d and the respective supply flow
passages 26a to 26d are not distinguished from each other, they are
simply referred to as "connection ports 25" and "supply flow passages
26". In this arrangement, the arrays of the cylindrical members 23 are
arranged and aligned in four arrays in the Y direction. The four
cylindrical members 23, which are aligned in the X direction, are
included in each of the arrays. In this embodiment, the different kinds
of inks having different colors are supplied to the connection ports 25a
to 25d of the plurality of cylindrical members 23 depending on the
positions in relation to the X direction. In other words, the four arrays
of the connection ports 25, in each of which the four connection ports
25a to 25d are aligned in the X direction, are aligned in the Y direction
on the bottom wall 10a. The four connection ports 25a to 25d, which are
aligned in the X direction, correspond to one cartridge installing
section 22. The four arrays of the connection ports 25, in each of which
the four connection ports 25a to 25d are aligned in the X direction, are
aligned in the Y direction to correspond to the four cartridge installing
sections 22 which are aligned in the Y direction. In this way, the four
connection ports 25a to 25d are arranged for each of the cartridge
installing sections 22. Further, the four cartridge installing sections
22 are constructed in a compact manner in which the plurality of
connection ports 25a to 25d are arranged in a matrix form.

[0039] The supply flow passages 26a to 26d extend in the Y direction
respectively, and they are connected to the tubes 11. In this embodiment,
the supply flow passages 26a to 26d are arranged in this order from top
down as viewed in FIG. 3. Each of the supply flow passages 26a to 26d is
communicated with four flow passages, which are aligned in the Y
direction and to which the ink of the same kind is supplied, in the
bottom wall 10a. In other words, each of the supply flow passages 26a to
26d is connected to the four flow passages disposed in the four
cylindrical members 23 aligned in the Y direction. In this case, these
four flow cylindrical members 23, which are aligned in the Y direction
and connected to one of the supply flow passages 26a to 26d, constitute a
set of the cylindrical members 23. The four sets of the cylindrical
members 23, each of which includes the four cylindrical members 23, are
arranged at the same positions in the X direction The four supply flow
passages 26a to 26d are arranged and aligned in the X direction. The
features described above are summarized as follows. That is, the four
supply flow passages 26a to 26d respectively have the same positions in
the X direction as those of the cylindrical members 23 corresponding to
the four types of the connection ports 25a to 25d respectively, and the
four supply flow passages 26a to 26d are connected to the four tubes 11
respectively.

[0040] In this way, in one cartridge installing section 22, a set of the
connection ports 25a to 25d of the four different types is aligned in the
X direction, and the four connection ports 25a to 25d included in the one
set of the connection port are connected via the cylindrical members 23
to the four supply flow passages 26a to 26d respectively. The four
connection ports 25 of the same type are aligned in the Y direction and
are disposed at the same position in relation to the X direction among
the different cartridge installing sections 22. These four connection
ports 25 of the same type are connected to one of the supply flow
passages 26 via the cylindrical members 23 on which the four connection
ports 25 are formed respectively. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the
four connection ports 25c, which are aligned in the Y direction and which
are disposed at the third positions as counted from the left as viewed in
FIG. 2, are connected to the supply flow passage 26c, and they are
connected to the corresponding tube 11. The other connection ports 25a,
25b, 25d, which are aligned in the Y direction, are also connected to the
supply flow passages 26a, 26b, 26d respectively, and they are connected
to the corresponding tubes 11. In this way, the four types of the
connection ports 25a to 25d, which are arranged in the respective
cartridge installing sections 22, are communicated with the four tubes 11
corresponding to the four color inks respectively.

[0041] Accordingly, the inks, each of which is supplied to one of the four
connection ports 25a to 25d aligned in the X direction in one cartridge
installing section 22, are allowed to flow to the four tubes 11
respectively via the four supply flow passages 26a to 26d.

[0042] Next, the ink cartridges 6 will be explained with reference to FIG.
6. The four ink cartridges 6, in which the four color inks are stored
respectively, differ in only the positions of supply ports 38a as
described later on, and they are constructed in the same manner in
relation to the other features. Therefore, an explanation will be made
about the arrangement or structure of one of the ink cartridges 6 in
which the black ink is stored. An explanation will be made about only the
difference in the supply ports 38a in relation to the arrangements or
structures of the ink cartridges 6 in which the remaining three color
inks are stored respectively.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the ink cartridge 6, in which the black ink is
stored, has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped cartridge body 30 in
which an ink storage chamber 33 for storing the ink is formed. An
atmospheric air communication hole 34 is formed through an upper wall 30a
of the cartridge body 30. Four communication holes 35a to 35d, which are
aligned in one direction and which correspond to the four connection
ports 25a to 25d of the cartridge installing section 22 respectively, are
formed through a bottom wall 30b. Rubber members 37, which are provided
as seal members, are stuck to the three communication holes 35a to 35c
from the side of the ink storage chamber 33. A rubber member 38, which is
formed with a supply port 38a, is stuck to the one remaining
communication hole 35d from the side of the ink storage chamber 33. The
three communication holes 35a to 35c are sealed by the rubber members 37
so that the ink contained in the ink storage chamber 33 does not flow
out. As for the one remaining communication hole 35d, the ink contained
in the ink storage chamber 33 flows out from the supply port 38a of the
rubber member 38 when the ink cartridge 6 is installed to the cartridge
installing section 22. When the ink cartridge 6 is not installed to the
cartridge installing section 22, the one remaining communication hole 35d
is sealed by a sealing mechanism such as an unillustrated valve mechanism
or the like so that the ink contained in the ink storage chamber 33 does
not flow out. The structure of the valve mechanism is not specifically
limited. However, it is possible to utilize, for example, a valve (check
valve) which is openable in one direction.

[0044] Regarding the ink cartridges 6 in which the three remaining color
inks other than the black are stored respectively, the position of the
communication hole, which is included in the four communication holes 35a
to 35d and to which the rubber member 38 is stuck, differs depending on
the colors of the inks stored in the ink storage chambers 33. Further,
the rubber members 37 are stuck to the three remaining communication
holes other than the communication hole to which the rubber member 38 is
stuck, of the four communication holes 35a to 35d. In this way, the
positions, at which the inks flow out when the ink cartridges 6 are
installed to the cartridge installing sections 22, are different while
being deviated in one direction depending on the respective colors of the
inks stored in the ink storage chambers 33, in relation to the ink
cartridges 6 in which the four color inks are stored respectively.

[0045] When the ink cartridge 6 storing the black ink is installed to the
cartridge installing section 22 while directing the supply port 38a
downwardly in the vertical direction, the recesses of the ink cartridge
6, in which the rubber members 37, 38 and the inner circumferential
surfaces of the four communication holes 35a to 35d aligned in one
direction are arranged, are fitted to portions of the four cylindrical
members 23 aligned in the X direction protruding from the bottom wall
10a.

[0046] The three connection ports 25a to 25c of the cartridge installing
section 22 abut against the rubber members 37 stuck to the communication
holes 35a to 35c of the ink cartridge 6, and the three connection ports
25a to 25c are sealed. The remaining connection port 25d of the cartridge
installing section 22 abuts against the rubber member 38 stuck to the
communication hole 35d of the ink cartridge 6. In this situation, the
supply port 38a of the rubber member 38 is released from the sealing
having been effected by the unillustrated sealing mechanism. The
communication with the communication hole 35d is caused, and the ink
contained in the ink storage chamber 33 flows out to the supply flow
passage 26d via the connection port 25d. The black ink, which flows out
to the supply flow passage 26d, is supplied to the subtank 4 via the
corresponding tube 11.

[0047] This process also proceeds similarly or identically when the ink
cartridges 6, in which the remaining three color inks other than the
black are stored respectively, are installed to the cartridge installing
sections 22. The rubber member 38 is stuck to only one of the
communication holes 35a to 35d, corresponding to the color of the ink
stored in the ink storage chamber 33. The one of the communication holes
35a to 35d is communicated with corresponding one of the connection ports
25a to 25d. The ink, which is contained in the ink storage chamber 33,
flows out to one of the supply flow passages 26a to 26d via corresponding
one of the connection ports 25a to 25d. The ink is supplied to the
subtank 4 via the corresponding tube 11. In this way, the order of
alignment of the plurality of connection ports 25a to 25c aligned in the
X direction with respect to the ink cartridge 6 is identical among the
cartridge installing sections 22.

[0048] As described above, the four connection ports 25a to 25d, which
correspond to the four communication holes 35a to 35d respectively, are
arranged in each of the cartridge installing sections 22 of the ink
supply apparatus 5 of this embodiment. The inks, each of which is
supplied from one of the four connection ports 25a to 25d, are supplied
to the corresponding four subtanks 4 respectively via the tubes 11 and
the supply flow passages 26a to 26d which are different from each other.
The ink of the same color is supplied from the ink cartridge or ink
cartridges 6 to the four connection ports 25a to 25d which have the same
position in relation to the X direction and which are arranged in the
respective cartridge installing sections 22 while being aligned in the Y
direction. The ink, which is supplied from the four connection ports 25a
to 25d aligned in the Y direction, is supplied to the corresponding
subtank 4 via one of the supply flow passages 26a to 26d and the tube 11.

[0049] Therefore, the four ink cartridges 6, which store the four color
inks respectively, can be installed at arbitrary positions without
determining the positions of installation with respect to the four
cartridge installing sections 22. Even when any one of the four ink
cartridges 6 is installed at any position, then the supply port 38a of
the ink cartridge 6 is communicated with one of the connection ports 25a
to 25d corresponding to the type of the ink cartridge 6, and the ink can
be supplied to the corresponding subtank 4 (ink-jet head 3) via one of
the supply flow passages 26a to 26d connected to the one of the
connection ports 25a to 25d. In this way, any installation position is
available for the ink cartridge 6 without any problem, and the
installation operation is conveniently performed by a user.

[0050] If the installable position of the cartridge installing section 22
is previously determined for every ink cartridge 6, it is necessary that
any complicated artifice to avoid the erroneous installation should be
provided for the ink cartridges 6 and the cartridge installing sections
22, in order to avoid the erroneous installation of the ink cartridges 6
to the cartridge installing sections 22. However, in the embodiment of
the present teaching, any installation position is available for the ink
cartridges 6 with respect to the cartridge installing sections 22 without
any problem. Therefore, it is unnecessary to provide any artifice for the
ink cartridges 6 and the cartridge installing sections 22 in order to
avoid the erroneous installation. It is possible to simplify the
arrangement or structure of the ink cartridges 6 and the cartridge
installing sections 22.

[0051] Further, the four types of the connection ports 25a to 25d, which
are aligned in the Y direction and to which the ink of the same color is
supplied, are commonly connected to one of the supply flow passages 26a
to 26d. Therefore, it is enough to provide the four tubes 11 (one tube 11
for each of the colors) which connect the four types of the supply flow
passages 26a to 26d for the respective colors to the subtanks 4 (ink-jet
head 3) provided as the connection objectives disposed on the downstream
side of the ink supply respectively. In this way, one of the supply flow
passages 26a to 26d, which is connected to the four connection ports 25a
to 25d subjected to the supply of the ink of the same color, is formed as
one flow passage. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the arrangement
or structure of the liquid supply section to supply the liquid to the
subtank 4 (ink-jet head 3).

[0052] Further, the connection ports 25a to 25d are open upwardly in the
vertical direction, and the supply port 38a is formed on the bottom
surface of the ink cartridge 6. Therefore, the ink can be supplied
downwardly in the vertical direction. The ink, which is contained in the
ink cartridge 6, can be supplied to the end without allowing the ink to
remain. In this arrangement, when any ink cartridge 6 of the four ink
cartridges 6 installed to the four cartridge installing sections 22
respectively is exchanged, then the ink cartridge 6 to be exchanged is
firstly detached from the cartridge installing section 22, and a new ink
cartridge 6 is installed to the cartridge installing section 22. When the
ink cartridge 6 is detached or installed, it is feared that the air may
be mixed from the four connection ports 25a to 25d of the cartridge
installing section 22. If the air is mixed from the connection ports 25a
to 25d, it is feared that the air may flow to the supply flow passages
26a to 26d communicated with the connection ports 25a to 25d, and the
flow passages may be clogged up.

[0053] In such a situation, the purge operation, in which the ink is
forcibly jetted from the ink-jet head 3 to remove the air, can be also
performed for the flow passage communicated with one of the connection
ports 25a to 25d connected to the supply port 38a of the ink cartridge 6
subjected to the exchange. However, if the purge operation is also
performed for the flow passages communicated with the remaining three of
the connection ports 25a to 25d, then the purge operation is consequently
performed for the flow passages corresponding to all of the inks every
time when any one of the ink cartridges 6 is exchanged, and the ink
consumption amount is increased. On the other hand, the air is hardly
mixed from the connection ports 25a to 25d, for example, when the ink
cartridge 6 is exchanged, because the connection ports 25a to 25d are
open upwardly in the vertical direction. Further, even when the air is
mixed, the air is moved upwardly in accordance with the buoyancy.
Therefore, the air is suppressed from flowing to the supply flow passages
26a to 26d, and it is possible to avoid the clog up of the flow passages.

[0054] Next, modified embodiments, in which various modifications are
applied to the embodiment described above, will be explained. However,
the components or parts, which are constructed in the same manner as
those of the embodiment described above, are designated by the same
reference numerals, any explanation of which will be appropriately
omitted.

First Modified Embodiment

[0055] In the embodiment of the present teaching, the connection ports 25a
to 25d of the cartridge installing section 22 are open upwardly in the
vertical direction. However, the direction, in which the connection ports
25a to 25d are open, may be arbitrary. However, the ink cartridges 6 are
preferably constructed as follows depending on the direction in which the
connection ports 25a to 25d are open. An explanation will be made with
reference to FIG. 7 about the arrangement of the ink cartridges as
exemplified by an exemplary case in which the connection ports 25a to 25d
of the cartridge installing sections 22 are constructed in the same
manner as those of the embodiment described above except that the
connection ports 25a to 25d are open in the horizontal direction by way
of example.

[0056] In this arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, atmospheric air
communication holes 134 are formed through upper walls 130a of cartridge
bodies 130, and communication holes 35a to 35d are formed through side
walls 130b thereof in the installing states of four ink cartridges 106a
to 106d in which the inks of different colors are stored respectively. A
rubber member 38 is stuck to one communication hole of the four
communication holes 35a to 35d in the same manner as in the embodiment
described above, and rubber members 37 are stuck to the remaining three
communication holes. The communication holes, which are included in the
communication holes 35a to 35d and to which the rubber members 38 are
stuck, have the positions which differ depending on the respective colors
of the inks. Further, the interior of each of the four ink cartridges
106a to 106d is divided or comparted into two spaces by a partition plate
131. The ink is stored in the space disposed on the side separated from
the side wail 130b formed with each of the communication holes 35a to
35d. A through-hole 132 is formed at the lower end of the partition plate
131. The through-hole 132 and a supply port 38a of the rubber member 38
are connected by a tube 139. In this way, the ink, which is contained in
the ink cartridge 106, is connected to the supply port 38a of the rubber
member 38 via the tube 139 from the through-hole 132 disposed at the
lower end of the partition plate 131. Therefore, even when the supply
port 38a is disposed at any position in relation to the vertical
direction of the ink cartridge 106, the ink contained in the ink
cartridge 106 can be supplied to the end.

[0057] In this arrangement, when the ink cartridge 106 to be exchanged is
detached from the cartridge installing section 22 when any ink cartridge
106 of the four ink cartridges 106 installed to the four cartridge
installing sections 22 respectively is exchanged, it is feared that the
air may tend to be mixed from the four connection ports 25a to 25d of the
cartridge installing section 22 from which the ink cartridge 106 has been
detached, and the flow passage clog up may be caused by the mixed air. In
view of the above, it is preferable that the ink supply apparatus is
constructed in accordance with a second modified embodiment or a third
modified embodiment described below in order that the mixed air is not
allowed to flow to the downstream flow passage or the mixed air is
removed.

Second Modified Embodiment

[0058] At first, an arrangement of the ink supply apparatus, which is
provided in order to avoid the mixed air from flowing to the downstream
flow passage, will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. As
shown in FIG. 8A, in this modified embodiment, the cylindrical member 23
in the embodiment described above is replaced by a cylinder member 123
having diameters which are reduced at positions disposed nearer to the
supply flow passage 26. The other features are the same as or equivalent
to those of the embodiment described above. A connection port 125, which
is connected to the supply port 38a of the ink cartridge or which is
sealed by the rubber member 37, is formed at the forward end of the
cylinder member 123. The space in the cylinder member 123, which is
formed between the connection port 125 and the supply flow passage 26, is
a capture space 127 for capturing the air. The portion, which is the
outlet portion of the capture space 127 and which is connected to the
supply flow passage 26, has a cross-sectional area which is smaller than
a cross-sectional area of the capture space 127 in the direction
perpendicular to the direction in which the ink flows. Accordingly, when
the ink cartridge is exchanged, the air, which is mixed from the
connection port 125 when the ink cartridge to be exchanged is detached
from the cartridge installing section, is captured by the capture space
127 of the cylinder member 123. The flow resistance of the flow passage
of the outlet portion of the capture space 127 is larger than the flow
resistance of the flow passage in the capture space 127. Therefore, even
when the air stays in each of the capture spaces 127 when a certain
connection port 125 is communicated with the supply port 38a of the ink
cartridge, and the flow arises in the ink contained in the supply flow
passage 26, then the air hardly flows into the supply flow passage 26,
because the flow resistance of the flow passage is large at the outlet
portion of the capture space 127. In this way, the air is captured by the
capture space 127 before the merging at the supply flow passage 26, and
thus it is possible to avoid the flow passage clog up which would be
otherwise caused by the air. As shown in FIG. 8B, the connection ports
125 may be constructed in the same manner as in the embodiment of the
present teaching, and a capture space 127 may be formed between each of
the connection ports 125 and the supply flow passage 26.

Third Modified Embodiment

[0059] Next, an explanation will be made with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B
about an arrangement of the ink supply apparatus in order to remove the
mixed air. In the third modified embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, the
holder 10 is provided with an air buffer 160 formed at a connecting
portion between the supply flow passage 26 and the tube 11.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9B, the air buffer 160 may be formed in
the tube 11 at an arbitrary position. In these cases, one air buffer 160
may be formed for the supply flow passages 26/tubes 11 in common, or a
plurality of air buffers 160 may be formed for the supply flow passages
26/tubes 11, respectively. The other features are the same as or
equivalent to those of the embodiment described above. The air buffer 160
is branched upwardly from the connecting portion between the supply flow
passage 26 and the tube 11. In this arrangement, the air buffer 160 is
communicated at an upper portion thereof with the ink cartridge installed
to the cartridge installing section. Accordingly, when the air is mixed
after the merging at the supply flow passage 26, the air is captured by
the air buffer 160 in accordance with the buoyancy before the air flows
to the tube 11. The air, which is captured by the air buffer 160, is
sucked together with the ink by means of an air removing mechanism such
as an unillustrated pump or the like. The ink and the air, which have
been sucked, are discharged to the ink cartridge installed to the
cartridge installing section in order to recover the ink. In this way,
the air is captured and removed by the air buffer 160 after the merging
at the supply flow passage 26, and thus it is possible to avoid the flow
passage clog up which would be otherwise caused by the air mixed into the
subtank 4 (inkjet head 3). The air, which is captured by the air buffer
160, may be discharged to the atmospheric air by means of the air
removing mechanism without discharging the air to the ink cartridge. The
second and third modified embodiments are not limited to such a case that
the direction, in which the connection port is open, is the horizontal
direction as in the first modified embodiment. The second and third
modified embodiments can be also applied to any case in which the
connection port is open in any direction. In particular, in the second
modified embodiment, the air in the flow passage, which is moved upwardly
in accordance with the buoyancy, can be captured more efficiently,
because the capture space 127 is disposed over or above the supply flow
passage 26 when the connection port 125 is open upwardly.

[0060] In the embodiment of the present teaching, the supply flow passage
26 is formed in the bottom wall 10a of the holder 10 which constitutes
the cartridge installing sections 22. However, the supply flow passage 26
may be composed of a tube or the like without being formed in the holder
10.

[0061] Further, in the embodiment of the present teaching, the four ink
cartridges 6, in which the inks of the different colors are stored
respectively, are installed to the four cartridge installing sections 22
respectively. However, the ink cartridges 6, which store the ink of the
same color, may be installed to a plurality of the cartridge installing
sections 22 respectively. For example, in the case of the monochrome
printing or black and white printing, only the black ink is used.
Therefore, the ink cartridges 6, in which the black ink is stored, may be
installed to all of the cartridge installing sections 22. In this
situation, even when the ink volumes (liquid surface heights) are
different among the plurality of ink cartridges 6 upon the installation,
an identical ink-surface height is provided in all of them since all of
the ink cartridges 6 are communicated with each other via the supply flow
passage 26. Therefore, only the ink, which is contained in one ink
cartridge 6, is not excessively consumed, and the ink is consumed
equivalently or uniformly.

[0062] The present teaching is not limited to the case in which the ink
cartridges 6 stored with the black ink are installed to all of the
cartridge installing sections 22. There may be the case in which only the
cartridges 6 of one type, each of which is any one of those for yellow,
cyan, and magenta, are installed to all of the cartridge installing
sections 22. Further, the ink cartridges 6 of any two types of those for
the four color inks may be installed to the cartridge installing sections
22, or the ink cartridges 6 of any three types may be installed thereto.
Accordingly, a larger number of the ink cartridges 6 for storing the ink
having a large consumption amount can be installed to the cartridge
installing sections 22 as compared with the ink cartridge 6 for storing
the ink having a small consumption amount. Therefore, it is possible to
decrease the frequency of the exchange of the ink cartridge 6. On the
other hand, for example, subcartridges, which store the inks of a
plurality of kinds, may be formed for one ink cartridge. For example,
three subcartridges, which store the three color inks of cyan, magenta,
and yellow respectively, may be formed in one ink cartridge. In this
case, when the ink cartridge having three subcartridges is installed to
the cartridge installing section, the three color inks are supplied to
the three connection ports of the cartridge installing section. In the
case of the printer having the four cartridge installing sections as
described above, when the ink cartridges for the black ink are installed
to the three ink cartridge installing sections, and the ink cartridge for
the three color inks, in which three subcartridges for the three color
inks of cyan, magenta, and yellow are formed integrally, is installed to
the remaining cartridge installing section, then a large amount of the
black ink which is consumed heavily can be supplied, and it is also
possible to perform the color printing.

Fourth Modified Embodiment

[0063] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 10, an ink cartridge 170 having a
large volume can be also installed to the ink supply apparatus 5 of the
embodiment of the present teaching instead of the ink cartridges 6 for a
plurality of colors. In this case, the number of the supply port or
supply ports of the ink cartridge 170 may be either one or a number
corresponding to the number of the cartridge installing sections 22.

[0064] In the embodiment of the present teaching, the cartridge installing
section 22 has the four connection ports 25a to 25d corresponding to the
four ink cartridges 6 for storing the four color inks. However, the
number of the connection port or connection ports may be a number
corresponding to the number of the ink cartridge or ink cartridges having
the different types, which may be an arbitrary number.

[0065] In the embodiment of the present teaching, the connection ports 25
of the cartridge installing sections 22, to which the ink of the same
color is supplied, are merged into one at the supply flow passage 26, and
they are connected to one of the subtanks 4 via one tube 11. Therefore,
the number of the connecting portions (the number of the tubes 11) to be
connected to the subtanks 4 corresponds to the number of the ink
cartridges having the different types to be installed to the cartridge
installing sections 22. However, the present teaching is not limited
thereto. It is appropriate that the connection is made between each of
the subtanks and each of the ink cartridges by means of at least one
connecting portion (tube or the like). For example, as shown in FIG. 11,
the supply flow passages, which are connected to the plurality of
connection ports 25 respectively, may be connected to the subtanks 4 via
a plurality of tubes 11 (for example, sixteen tubes 11 in this
embodiment) independently respectively without being communicated with
each other. In the embodiment of the present teaching, the supply flow
passages 26 are formed in the holder 10 for the cartridge installing
sections 22. However, as shown in FIG. 11, it is not necessarily
indispensable that the respective supply flow passages should be formed
integrally with the holder. For example, the respective supply flow
passages may be formed with tubes respectively.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present teaching, the supply port 38a of
the ink cartridge 6 is formed for the rubber member 38. However, there is
no limitation thereto. It is also allowable that the rubber member 38 is
not formed with the supply port 38a. In this case, for example, as shown
in FIG. 12, the following arrangement is also available. That is, the
cylindrical members 23 of the cartridge installing section 22 are hollow
needles, and the rubber members 37 of the ink cartridge 6 have a
thickness thicker than a thickness of the rubber member 38, wherein the
cylindrical member 23 (hollow needle) is long enough to penetrate through
the rubber member 38, but the cylindrical members 23 (hollow needles) is
not long enough to penetrate through the rubber members 37. Specifically,
the communication hole 35, which corresponds to the stored ink, is sealed
with the rubber member 38, and the other communication holes 35 are
sealed with the rubber members 37 having the thickness thicker than the
thickness of the rubber member 38. When the ink cartridge 6 is installed
to the cartridge installing section 22, then the cylindrical member 23
(hollow needle), which corresponds to the rubber member 38, penetrates
through the rubber member 38, and the ink storage chamber 33 and the
supply flow passage 26 are communicated with each other. On the other
hand, the rubber members 37 are thicker than the rubber member 38, and
the cylindrical members 23 (hollow needles) can not penetrate through the
rubber members 37. Therefore, the rubber members 37 still seal the
communication holes 35. According to this arrangement, it is unnecessary
to seal the supply port 38a, because the ink cartridge 6 is not formed
with the supply port 38a. Further, the connection port 25 is formed at
the forward end of the hollow needle having the thin or small diameter.
Therefore, when the ink cartridge 6 is detached from the cartridge
installing section 22, the ink does not flow out from the connection port
25. In the embodiment and the modified embodiments thereof, the
connection ports, which are formed on the cartridge installing section,
are open when the ink cartridge is not installed to the cartridge
installing section. When the ink cartridge is installed to the cartridge
installing section, the connection ports are sealed except for one.
However, the present teaching is not limited thereto. All of the
connection ports may be sealed when the ink cartridge is not installed to
the cartridge installing section, while one of the connection ports may
be communicated with the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is
installed to the cartridge installing section.

[0067] In the embodiment and the modified embodiments thereof explained
above, the present teaching is applied to the ink supply apparatus 5 for
supplying the ink or inks to the ink-jet head of the printer. However,
the objective, to which the present teaching is applicable, is not
limited to the printer as described above. The present teaching is
applicable to any liquid supply apparatus for supplying the liquid or
liquids to any apparatus disposed on the downstream side to be used in a
variety of technical fields.